Research reveals that, once a city reaches a certain threshold of bike infrastructure, opposition decreases and residents want more.

Has your city entered the ‘virtuous cycle’ of bikeability? Writing in Streetsblog USA, Kea Wilson describes the ‘tipping point’ at which residents begin calling for more bike infrastructure, signaling a desire to see biking as an everyday transportation mode.
The measure comes from advocacy group PeopleForBikes, which issues an annual list of City Ratings. Cities that score 50 or above on the organization’s SPRINT rubric, which “includes such measures as protected bike lanes, safe intersection treatments, and reduced speed limits that are unlikely to kill a cyclist in the event of a crash, among other factors,” are said to have reached the tipping point where “bike culture has firmly taken root.”
According to Martina Haggerty, senior director of local innovation at PeopleForBikes, “[That's] not to say that there aren't still improvements to be made [but it] probably means that more people are riding bikes in those communities because they feel safe and comfortable. And when more people start riding bikes, those people tend to become advocates for better bike infrastructure and for pro-bike policies, which, [in turn,] will get more people riding.”
This year, 183 communities achieved a score of 50 or higher, a dramatic jump from the 33 that reached that score in 2019. This “reveals for the first time just how fast these destinations have improved their biking scores over the years — and how, at a certain point, those wins become self-perpetuating.” However, those communities represent just 8 percent of the 2.300 communities on the list.
FULL STORY: Has Your City Passed the ‘Bikeability Tipping Point’?

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ascent Environmental
Borough of Carlisle
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service